Far in a western brookland That bred me long ago The poplars stand and tremble By pools I used to know. There, in the windless night-time, The wanderer, marvelling why, Halts on the bridge to hearken How soft the poplars sigh. He hears: no more remembered In fields where I was known, Here I lie down in London And turn to rest alone. There, by the starlit fences, The wanderer halts and hears My soul that lingers sighing About the glimmering weirs.
Three Songs
by Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Sir (1883 - 1953)
1. Far in a western brookland  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Authorship:
- by Alfred Edward Housman (1859 - 1936), no title, appears in A Shropshire Lad, no. 52, first published 1896
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Researcher for this page: Ted Perry2. Slumber song  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
Still my baby, hush my darling, Golden stars drift all about your bed; And while the soft grey veils of sleep Over your little helpless body creep Mine arms shall fold you Close, and hold you Bathed in the dews of the spirit's fountain head. From your sleepy world of dreams and stars Stretch out your tiny hands rememb'ring me. Through pallid mists and memories My sweet dead stars fall in the sighing seas. You have I only, I that am lonely, O give me love as I give love to thee!
Authorship:
- by Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, Sir (1883 - 1953), as Sheila McCarthy
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. When I was one‑and‑twenty  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
When I was one-and-twenty I heard [a wise man]1 say, "Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies But keep your fancy free." But I was one-and-twenty, No use to talk to me. When I was one-and-twenty I heard him say again, "The heart out of the bosom Was never given in vain; 'Tis paid with sighs a plenty And sold for endless rue." And I am two-and-twenty, And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.
Authorship:
- by Alfred Edward Housman (1859 - 1936), no title, appears in A Shropshire Lad, no. 13, first published 1896
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Patricia Dillard Eguchi) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Bertram Kottmann) , "Als ich war einundzwanzig", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HEB Hebrew (עברית) (Max Mader) , "כאשר הייתי בן עשרים ואחת", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Steele: "an old man"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 256